NJC Recommends Appointment of 12 Appeal Court Justices, Including Omotosho and Nwite

• Extends appointment of Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua as Imo State Acting Chief Judge

• Suspends two judges for one year without pay

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the appointment of Justice James Omotosho, Justice Emeka Nwite, and ten additional judges as Justices of the Court of Appeal.

The recommendation was made at the council’s 111th meeting on 13 May 2026, chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Kudirat Kekere‑Ekun.

The other nominees are: Justice Yakubu Abdulhammeed Mohammed; Justice Abodunde Monisola Oluwatoyin; Justice Ajuwa Raphael; Justice Abua Elias Ojie; Justice Ijohor Mbalamen Jennifer; Justice Shuaibu Sabiu Bala; Justice Buba Dauda Njane; Justice Kado Sanusi; Justice Ademola Enikuomehin; and Justice Dadom Julcit Veronica.

In addition, the NJC proposed one candidate for appointment as a High Court judge in Benue State and two candidates for the position of Kadi in the Sharia Court of Appeal in Katsina State.

According to a statement from the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola‑Ogedengbe, “These recommendations are intended to fill vacancies arising from the elevation and retirement of Judicial Officers across various levels of the Judiciary and to strengthen the capacity of courts for effective justice delivery.”

The council explained that all recommendations followed a rigorous selection process that included public scrutiny, evaluation of complaints from stakeholders, and interviews conducted by a nine‑member Interview Committee, in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers.

The NJC also extended the acting appointment of Justice Ijeoma O. Agugua as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State for an additional three months, from 26 March 2026 to 26 June 2026, to allow time for the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge.

During the same meeting, the council praised Justice Ononeze‑Madu for declining to be sworn in contrary to established constitutional procedure, describing the action as a demonstration of institutional integrity and respect for the rule of law.

“The Council reiterated its call to the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to expedite the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge in order to ensure stability, safeguard judicial independence, and enhance the effective administration of justice in the State,” the statement read in part.

However, the council rejected appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State Judiciary who sought a reversal of their compulsory retirement from service due to alleged age falsification. The rejection was based on the fact that the judges failed to present fresh evidence capable of justifying a reversal of the sanctions imposed on them.

While noting that the council considered 13 investigation reports on petitions filed against Judicial Officers nationwide, the statement added that eight of the petitions were dismissed for lack of merit, lack of diligent prosecution, or because they were time‑barred. “Sanctions, including one‑year suspensions without pay, were imposed in two cases where misconduct was established,” it said.

Specifically, the council suspended Hon. Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the High Court of Nasarawa State for one year without pay for judicial misconduct involving the grant of an ex parte order in breach of Rules 3.1, 3.3 and 3.5 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016. The suspension followed a petition by Oluwafunke Obale Ozozoma over proceedings in Suit No. NSD/MG56M/2025.

Similarly, the council suspended Hon. Justice Edward A. E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for one year without pay over allegations of breach of fair hearing in a matrimonial case.